Hinged switch-joint.



No. 740,839. PATENTED OCT. 6, 1903.

W. A. FORT.

HINGE!) SWITGH JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

V ,i ,V L l" uw i @n ng= nn` w'fi' Y l?" ////////////////v//// ing drawings.

UNITED STATES Patented October 6, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HINGED SWI TCH-JOINT.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,839, dated October 6, 1903.

Appleman inea nay 19, i903. r

T @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that LWILLIAM A. FORT, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Columbia, in the county of Richland, State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and uste-v ful Improvements in Hinged Switch-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had th'ereinr to the accompany# This invention relates to a hinged switch# joint, and particularly to improved means for pivotally mounting the 'switch-points.

The invention has 'foran object to provide a space-block extending between the main rail andunovable switch-point upon which a rigid bearing'may be secured for the point and means provided by which any longitudinal movement thereof is eectually prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved base-plate having a'flanged edge adapted to be engaged by the base of the switch-.point at its pivoted end to retain same against lateral and vertical movement.

Other and further objects and advantages' of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure I is a plan showing the application of the present invention to a switch-joint. Fig.v 2 is a similar view of lthe switch-joint upon an enlarged scale. Fig-f3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. fi is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the applica=- tion of the invention 'main' or stock railsA are shown in Fig. 1 and lead-rails A', cop; erating therewith and kwith the switch-points A2, are illustrated in their operative relations, said points being adapted to be shifted or moved by any desired mechanism-#for instance, the rod A-iirhile f they 'are pivotally connected to thev lead-rails at the opposite end A4 thereof. Between` the main rail and the lead and switch rails a spacing-block B is provided,'adapted to fill the space between said rails, while 'beneath the saine the baseplatev B extends, having at one side any upturned dange B2, provided with suitable cutshifted toward the edge of the plate.

serial no. 157,805. ci@ man.)

away portions B3 to receive the holdingspikes, while the opposite side of the plate is providedwith an overturned fiange B4, forming a space or recess B5, adapted to receive the base of the switch-point .A2 as the same is The switch-point A2 is connected to the lead-rail .by means of thehinge (lione leaf of which is secured to the web of the lead-rail by means of bolts C', passing through the hinge-leaf, leadrail, spacer-block, and main rail, as shown in Fig. 2,whercby all of the parts arerirmly clamped in position and together. The opposite leaf CZ of the hinge is secured to the switch-point A2 by means of bolts C3, extending through the switch-point and provided vwith heads C4, adapted'to seat within the recesses B5 of the spacer-block B, which recesses also receive the head C5 of the bolt C6, which extends through the main rail A, thereby securing the block at that end to said rail and permittinga free movement of the switchpoint without withdrawing the head C4 of the bolt C3 from the recess Yin the block. Each of these bolts' is provided with the usual secur- Y 'ing-nuts and washers, which are not specifically herein described. The hinge-leaves may be pivoted together in any desired mannerlfor instance', by means of the perforated ears 07, carried by the leaf O2, embracing the lug C8, carried bythe opposite leaf, and a bolt or This bolt may be held against removal by a Cotterhpin()m at its lower end'l In the operation ofk the switchit will be seen that the point thereof is always free to 'move without applying any strain thereto nor .to the lead-rail, which 4strain causes the Aspikes to loosen for some distance behind the joint and renders the track dangerous. The

block extending between the rails forms a firm bearin g to hold the parts in positive alinement and also for the pivoting of the switchpoint, while the bolt-heads or projections car'- ried by this point are seated within the recesses within the block, which effectually preL vents any longitudinal movement of the switch-point even though the pivot thereof isV accidentally destroyed. This structure, in connection with the base-plate, forms afjoint of special strength and one in which the parts are rmly held in their relative positions,

ICD

tion without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a switch-joint, a lead-rail, a main rail, a switch-point pivoted to said lead-rail at its point of connection therewith, and a spacing- -iron secured between the main rail Aand the lead-rail and extended parallel to the switchpoint to form an abutment therefor.

2. In a switch-joint, a main rail, a lead-rail, aswitch-pointpivoted to said lead-rail, a spacing-block extended between the main rail and the lead-rail and switch point, and projections carried by the switch-point adapted to seatin recesses in said block.

3. In a switch-joint, a main rail, a lead-rail, a switch-pointpivoted to said lead-rail, a spacing-block extended between the main rail and the lead-rail and switch-point, projections carried by the switch-point adapted to seat in recesses in said block, and a base-plate beneath said rails provided with an overturned edge at the opposite side of the switch-point from the projections carried thereby.

4. In a switch-joint, a main rail, a lead-rail and switch-point carried thereby, a spacingblock between said main and lead rails, a hinge having leaves extending upon the outer face of said lead-rail and switch-point, and securing bolts for said hinge extending through the lead-rail, block and main rail.

5. In a switch-joint, a main rail, a lead-rail and switch-point carried thereby, a spacingblock between said main and lead rails, a hinge having leaves extending upon the outer face of said lead-rail and switch-point, securing-bolts for said hinge extending through the lead-rail, block and main rail, a hingesecuring bolt carried by the switch-point and having an extended head adapted to seat in a recess formed in said block, and a securing-bolt extending from the inner portion of said recess through the main rail.

6. In a switch-joint, a main rail, alead-rail and switch-point carried. thereby, a spacingblock between said main and lead rails, a

hinge havingleaves extending upon the outer face of said lead-rail and switch-point, securing-bolts for said hinge extending through the lead-rail, block and main rail, a hinge-securing bolt carried by the switch-point and having an extended head adapted to seat in a recess formed in said block, a securing-bolt extending from the inner portion of said recess through the main rail, and a base-plate extending beneath the joint and having its edge opposite the switch-point overturned to form a recess to receive the base of said point.

7. In a switch-joint, a spacing-block secured in position and provided with a recess in one face thereof, a movable switch-point, and a projection upon the face of said point extending into said recess and adapted to remain therein in the shifted positions of the point.

S. In a switch-joint, a spacing-block secured in position and provided with a recess in one face thereof, a movable switch-point, a projection upon the face of said point extending into said recess and adapted to remain therein in the shifted positions of the point, and a base-plate at the opposite side of the point frornthe projection adapted to receive the base of the point in its shifted p0- sition.

9. In a switch-joint, a main rail, a lead-rail, a movable switch-point pivoted at its end to the lead-rail, a spacing-block extending between the main rail and the lead-rail and switch-point to form an abutment for the movement of the switch-point toward the main rail, and means upon the adjacent faces of the block and point to prevent longitudinal movement of the switch-point.

lO. In aswitch-joint, a main rail, alead-rail, a movable switch-point carried thereby, a spacing-block extending between the main rail and the lead-rail and switch-point to form an abutment for the movement of the switch'- point toward the main rail, means to prevent longitudinal movement of the switch-point, and a ange at the opposite side of the switchpoint from the spacing-block to limit the movement of said point away from said block.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. FORT.

Witnesses:

J. P. DARBY, G. F. BOYD. 

